UFC on FOX 7 LIVE results and play-by-play

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[ads1]UFC on FOX 7 takes place this evening at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and is headlined with a lightweight title bout between current UFC 155 pound champ Benson Henderson and former Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez. In the co-main event Strikeforce heavyweight GP tournament winner Daniel Cormier takes on former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir.

UFC on FOX 7 will broadcast LIVE on FOX starting at 8 p.m. ET, with prelims airing LIVE on FX starting at 5 p.m. ET and on Facebook at 4 p.m. ET.

UFC on FOX 7 play-by-play:

Clifford Starks vs. Yoel Romero

Round 1 – Touch gloves. Side kick from Romero, right from Starks. Romero takes an inside leg kick as he circles around the outside. Leg kick and then a hook kick to the head from Romero. Thigh punch from Romero, big inside leg kick. Both these guys look extremely athletic and powerful — and as I’m typing that Romero times a perfect flying knee to the chin of Starks that drops him like a big tree getting cut down. Romero follows up with punches and this fight is over folks. Amazing UFC debut for Yoel Romero. That’s Romero’s fourth first round finish.

Roger Bowling vs. Anthony Njokuani

Round 1 – Touch gloves. Roger misses a leg kick. Leaping left hook from Bowling., again. Body kick to follow. Another body kick from Bowling. Switch stance from Anthony. Bowling with a leaping left hook to the head, now one to the body. Body shot from Anthony. Jab. Nice footwork on the outside from Anthony. Big left to the body from Njokuani. Bowling fires back, chasing with punches, lands a body kick. Good distance from Njokuani, nice quick jab. Body kick from Bowling. Body kick from Njokuani. Leg kick Bowling. Njokuani catches the next one, lets it go and just missing a punch from Bowling. Bowling shoots for the first time and gets some air with a beautifully timed double leg. Inside his full guard, Bowling starts on the ground and pound. Njokuani gets his back to the cage and is right up. Dirty boxing, Njokuani lands a big knee on the break. Nice right stuns Bowling as they move to the center. Another nice right. A one two before the bell. PMN has it 10-9 for Njokuani. Njokuani got the round back after getting back to his feet.

Round 2 – Touch gloves. Anthony catches a body kick, sweeps the back leg and Bowling goes down. Right back up, they reset. Nice body kick from Njokuani. Left right, left high kick from Njokuani, spinning back kick to the body. Front kick. Right counter. Leg kick from Bowling. Body kick counter from Njokuani. He’s so fun to watch with his striking. Left jab. Leg kick Bowling. Body shot to follow. Jab from Njokuani. Oh my god. I don’t even know what just happened… He looked like a freakin gunslinger just now. As Bowling starts to even think about leaping in, Njokuani times a perfect left hook that you have to slow down in a replay to half speed to even see… one punch and this fight is over. Bowling goes down and out face first and he didn’t even need to follow up. Amazing. Back to back knockouts on the Facebook prelims! Beautiful start to the show.

T.J. Dillashaw vs. Hugo Viana

Round 1 – Left hand from Viana as Dillashaw lands a leg kick. Left jab from Viana. Another left hook drops Dillashaw. Viana attacks but there’s a scramble and Dillashaw takes his back with hooks in. Viana escapes rather quickly back to the feet. Elbow from Viana, and Dillashaw drops levels for the takedown. Viana is back up and they exchange punches. Viana gets clipped with a punch and touches down, but gets right back up. Dillashaw lands a solid left that stuns Viana. They reset. Front kick from Dillashaw. Left to body from Dillashaw, left hook from Viana. Dillashaw is bleeding from a cut on his nose likely from that elbow he took earlier. Dillashaw clips Viana with a head kick then a big right hand drops him. Viana tries to retreat but Dillashaw stays on him with punches and this fight is over as Big John McCarthy steps in.

Jorge Masvidal vs. Tim Means

Round 1 – Front kick Means. Again. Means is the larger fighter. Another front kick. Right hand from Masvidal. Couple of combos and a nice left from Means. Nice right from Masvidal. Leg kick from Means. Right hand and a body kick from Masvidal. Spinning elbow from Means. Masvidal says there was nothing there and shrugs his shoulders. Nice right, and another from Masvidal, body kick. He fakes the shot and comes up with a one two. Quick left jab from Masvidal. Means with the forward movement. Big takedown from Masvidal but Means gets right back up. Masvidal on his back with a body lock and one hook in while standing. Means turns around, Masvidal backs up with a one two. Leg kick Means. Means shoots for a single, lets it go after Masvidal hops around. Left to body from Means. One two from Masvidal. PMN has it 10-9 for Masvidal.

Round 2 – Means’ corner tells him to knock Masvidal out. Easier said than done. Counter left from Means. Right jab. Masvidal shoots in and gets the takedown after some initial resistance. Elbows from the bottom by Means. Masvidal stands over Means who lands a nice upkick. Masvidal seems okay and lands a right as Means gets up. Left to the body from Masvidal… looking like Nick Diaz. Masvidal gets another takedown and attacks from the top, forcing Means to give up his back. Masvidal gets one hook in. Means stands up, Masvidal with the body lock puts him right back down. Elbows from the bottom from Means but Masvidal has enough of that and drops his own elbows. Means punches back, has a body triangle from the bottom, now regular guard. Masvidal punches up with several punches. Means trying to throw his legs up to make something happen. Under a minute to go. Masvidal trying to stay busy. More elbows from Means and Masvidal is cut and bleeding. However, with all of Masvidal’s takedowns added in I give the round to Masvidal 10-9.

Round 3 – Touch gloves. Left counter from Means. Again with a left counter snapping Masvidal’s head back. Body kick from Masvidal. Knee from Means, Masvidal catches it pushes him to the cage, drops levels and gets Means down. Big elbows from Means. Means gets up as Masvidal tries to keep him down. Masvidal shoots and gets Means down again. Big elbows from the bottom from Means do damage. Masvidal postures up with punches but Means using wrist control and preventing a lot of damage. Means with full guard, lands another nice elbow and several more. Couple of punches and body shots from Masvidal. Means looking for a kimura and uses it to sweep and mount. Masvidal escapes but ends up on bottom as Means unleashes a flurry of elbows and punches. PMN sees the round 10-9 Means and the fight 29-28 for Masvidal.

Joseph Benavidez vs. Darren Uyenoyama

Round 1 – Left jab from Uyenoyama. Straight left to body from Benavidez. He throws a high kick that’s blocked. He catches a kick from Uyenoyama, dumps him on his back and dives in with punch. Stands up, kicks his thighs, goes into his guard briefly, stands back up. Left hook from Uyenoyama. Leg kick from Benavidez goes high to the groin. Brief time out. Touch gloves. Body kick from both guys. Inside leg kick from Benavidez. Big overhand right from Benavidez and Uyenoyama goes down, right back up. Another overhand fright from Benavidez, blocked. Right hand from Benavidez. Body kick from Uyenoyama. Right hand from Benavidez. He lands a high kick behind the head and Uyenoyama goes down. He survives somehow and is back up. They clinch up, Benavidez takes him down. He stands up and kicks the thighs of Uyenoyama. Left hand from Uyenoyama. Benavidez is bleeding from the side of his head. Inside leg kick from Benavidez. I see it 10-9 for Benavidez.

Round 2 – Right hand from Benavidez, leg kick inside. Another right hand. Leg kick. Left hand. Leg kick. Uyenoyama is doing nothing. High kick slaps the arm of Uyenoyama. Benavidez lands a one two. Punch combo, body kick. Uyenoyama with a body lock, knees to thighs. Uyenoyama tries to drop down and drag Benavidez but he slips loose and ends up on his back eating a few punches. Back to the feet. Right hand from Joe lands behind the head. Nice left from Benavidez. One two. Uyenoyama’s mouth is wide open. He’s doing nothing but surviving. Maybe his jaw is broke. If he’s not hurt he may get cut after this fight. He tries catching a kick but Benavidez is just having his way with him. Liver kick from Benavidez hurts him, he tries to suck it up but Benavidez stays on him with punches to the body, a left hook to the body and Uyenoyama goes down and this fight is over.

Myles Jury vs. Ramsey Nijem

Round 1 – Right from Jury. Overhand left from Nijem. Inside leg kick from Jury, body kick from Nijem but Jury catches it and takes him down. Scramble and Nijem on top in almost side control as Jury his holding his body. Jury gets to one knee and now his feet, clinched against the cage. Jury drops levels and pulls Nijem’s ankle out to get him down. Jury jumps on his back as Nijem turtles up. Jury softens him up with punches. Nijem stands up and dumps Jury on his back. Jury throws up for an armbar. Nijem puts his knee on Jury’s neck as he looks to defend. Nijem escapes the armbar and tries to hold Jury down. He moves to Jury’s back, looking for the hooks. Jury spins around and ends up on top, now looking for Nijem’s back. Nijem grabs a leg. Jury spins out of it and is riding Nijem’s back as he’s turtled up. Nijem spins around and takes Jury’s back with hooks in. Close technical grappling round but I give it to Nijem 10-9.

Round 2 – Leg kick from Jury, body head combo from Nijem. Nijem takes an eye poke, he turns to walk away and Jury tries to kick him. Brief tim called. Back at it. Left jab from Nijem. Overhand left from Nijem but Jury counters it perfectly with an overhand right and Nijem goes down and out. Jury improves to 12-0. Wow! Dana White will have his hands full tonight selecting “KO of the Night”.

Lorenz Larkin vs. Francis Carmont

Round 1 – Left hook from Carmont. Inside leg kick from Larkin. Body kick from Carmont, leg kick from Larkin. Again. Kick to the forearm from Carmont. Big leg kick from Larkin. Carmont shoots for the single. Larkin defends. Carmont drags him across the cage with one leg, nasty elbows from Larkin to the side of the head. Carmont lifts the leg over Larkin’s head as he hops around. Amazing takedown defense! Carmont lets it go and drops down for a double, switches to a single, lets it go. Clinched. Carmont backs out. Kick to forearm from Carmont. Switch stance. Inside leg kick from Larkin. Larkin just misses a big overhand right. Oblique kick to front of leg. I see it 10-9 Larkin although neither fighter landed much.

Round 2 – One two from Carmont. Inside leg kick from Larkin. Switch stance from Carmont. Larkin scores with a head kick. Carmont kicks the forearms. Oblique kick from Larkin. Left counter from Larkin. Forearm kick and leg kick from Carmont. Spinning heel kick to the thigh from Larkin. Oblique kick from Larkin, left hook. Left hand. Carmont lands a nice counter right. Carmont shoots, he scoops the ankle but Larkin bounces right up, lands a few elbows to the side of the head. Carmont backs out. Trade leg kicks. Big leg kick from Larkin, he checks Carmont’s leg kick. Carmont with a jab. Leg kick from Larkin. Nice overhand right from Carmont, inside leg kick. Body shot from Carmont. Under a minute to go. Leg sweep attempt from Larkin. Larkin with a right hand, then spinning kick to the leg. Carmont shoots, finally gets Larkin to his butt. Time is up. I have it 10-9 Larkin.

Round 3 – Carmont blocks a high kick, Larkin blocks one in return. Carmont shoots, lifts up Larkin’s leg and sweeps the back leg but Larkin bounces right up. Carmont looking for his back while standing. Larkin defends. Carmont goes for a leg and frustratingly tosses him away toward the ground. They reset in the center. Leg kick from Larkin. Carmont grabs the leg and sweeps him to the ground. Larkin with full guard looking for an armbar. Carmont moves to side mount. Larkin looking for a gogoplata, Carmont escapes. Back inside full guard. The crowd boos. Larkin with mission control, lands a nice elbow off his back. Larkin cranks a kimura, uses it to sweep and takes top control. Carmont escapes to his feet. They reset in the center. Leg kick from Larkin. He kicks the elbow of Carmont. Just before the bell Larkin goes for a no-handed cartwheel type kick but misses. I’ve got it 10-9 and 30-27 for Larkin.

Chad Mendes vs. Darren Elkins

Round 1 – Touch gloves. Leg kick from Mendes. Big leg kick from Mendes. Body shot from Elkins. Big right hand from Mendes knocks Elkins backward. He tries to keep his composure but Medes measures him with a straight right then — boom — a big right hook and Elkins goes down. Mendes follows up with the flurry and referee Herb Dean stops it. Mendes says to the camera, “I’m coming for you Aldo.” Do you realize that 145 pound Chad Mendes has knocked out his last three opponents in the first round. He says he thinks Coach Duane Ludwig was the missing link for Team Alpha Male.

Matt Brown vs. Jordan Mein

Round 1 – Nice quick step in right elbow from Mein, overhand right. One two from Brown as he hunts Mein. Left right from Brown and Mein is on ice skates. Head kick, uppercut. He tells Mein to come on and quit running. One two from Mein. Brown hurts him, front kick. Knee to body. Big John halts the action to give Mein his mouthpiece back. Inside leg kick from Mein. Left hand from Brown. Brown putting on the pressure. Swelling under his right eye. Big hook from Brown. Right hook from Mein. Brown scores but Mein fires back. Clinch and several knees to body from Brown. Mein backs up. Left hook to body from Mein. Big left hook backs Brown up. Left hook to the body drops Brown, it was a liver shot that made him wince. He’s still hurt. His ribs may be broke. Mein goes inside his guard. Brown goes for a triangle, locks it quickly. It’s tight and also has his arm. Mein pulls out. Is anyone tougher than Mat Brown. Mein stands up and out. Brown with a big right hand. Lands several knees in the clinch, standing elbow and the bell sounds. Brown waves to the crowd and is feeling good. AMAZING FIGHT! 10-9 for Brown.

Round 2 – Right from Brown. Another right, backs him up, swarms him and Mein’s nose is a bloody mess. Brown drags him to the ground and landing punches as Mein covers up. Mein on his knees as Brown delivers several big elbows and punches with bad intentions to the and body and Big John stops it. That’s five wins in a row for Mr. Matt Brown!

Nate Diaz vs. Josh Thomson

Round 1 – Looks like the UFC made referee Mike Beltran braid his mustache. Diaz hunting. Big leg kick from Thomson. Two more. Another. One two from Nate. Thomson on his bicycle. Front kick just misses the chin. Leg kick from Thomson. Nate hunting him down. Right from Nate. Punch to thigh from Thomson. Huge head kick from Thomson and Nate just eats it and keeps coming forward. That was HARD. “Come on bitch,” Nate says. he lands a right. Another head kick and Nate catches it after it lands and dumps him. One two from Nate. Nate turns his back to him and acts like he’s walking away. Leg kick from Thomson. ONe two from Nate and Thomson slips off balance. Clinch, knee from Thomson. Clinch against the cage. Thomson turns him around and backs out. Thomson lands a couple rights behind the head out of the clinch. Nice couple counter punches from Thomson. Body shot from Nate and Thomson lands a nice one two counter to the face. Clinch, takedown from Thomson, he lands inside Nate’s guard. Thomson postures up with big ground and pound but Nate makes it to his feet before the bell and chases Thomson. 10-9 Thomson. Nick is watching Thomson’s corner and giving Nate some advice.

Round 2 – Nate comes out quick with punches. Nate’s right knee is swollen, possibly injured says Joe Rogan. Clinch, knee to groin from Nate and time is called. Back at it. Nate tells him to come on. Nate taunting, clinch, Thomson pushes him to the cage. Big knee to the body. Underhooks from Thomson. Elbow from Thomson on the break. Nate bleeding it looks like. Nate lands a couple punches, gets a body lock and puts Thomson down. Looks for a guillotine as Thomson gets up. Clinched against the cage. Thomson with a couple elbows, backs out. They reset in the center. Right hand from Nate. Nate bleeding under his eye pretty good. Body shot from Thomson. Clinch against the cage, elbow from Thomson. Knee to body, again from Thomson. Nate gets out, lands a right hook. They reset. Clinch, big head kick hurts Diaz, he’s wobbled and Thomson lands a right hand that drops Diaz face down to his knees. Thomson swarms him with punches and the referee saves him. Wow! No one has ever done that to Nate Diaz. Diaz’s corner actually through in the towel although it wasn’t needed as the ref stopped it.

Frank Mir vs. Daniel Cormier

Round 1 – Mir comes out flashing some head kicks. Cormier dodges and blocks them. Nice knee to the body from Mir as Cormier swings and clinches up against the cage. Elbow and uppercut from Cormier. Knee from Mir. Cormier with a body shot as he backs up. Comes back in quickly with big punches. Cormier presses him up to the cage with punches and a knee to the body. Knee from Mir. Right left to the body from Cormier. Dirty boxing from Cormier. Two knees to the body, big right to the body. He’s chipping Mir away and wearing him down. More body shots and a knee. Big elbow as he backs up. Mir still in his face. Right hook from Mir. Body shot Cormier, presses him to the cage. Knee to thigh. Cormier backs up and slips to the ground on a head kick. Mir goes for his neck but Cormier backs out. Inside leg kick from Cormier buckles his leg. Spinning kick from Mir misses. Leg kick Cormier. 10-9 Cormier.

Round 2 – Big leg kick from Mir. Using good footwork. Cormier misses a jumping roundhouse to the head. Cormier clinches him up against the cage. Hammerfist to thigh from Mir. Knee to thigh from Cormier. Big knee to body from Cormier. Knee to thigh. Cormier backs out of the clinch as the crowd boos. Nice right from Cormier, pushes Mir to the cage. Short elbow from Cormier. Cormier backs out. Side kick to the leg from Mir. Clinch, Cormier presses him to the cage. Knee to thigh. Dirty boxing from Cormier, uppercut. Knee to body from Mir. Knee to thigh from Cormier. Cormier backs up with a couple punches but Mir counters with a nice shot. They reset. One two from Cormier. He slips a couple of Mir’s punches, lands a big right to the body and clinches up. Ref separates them, wants them to fight. They let the last 10 seconds run out. 10-9 Cormier.

Round 3 – Frank Sr. told Frank to swing for the fences or pull guard. The ref wipes both guys off. Head kick attempt for Mir, again. Big leg kick but Cormier catches it and dumps him. Mir gets up and Cormier presses him to the cage. Cormier backs up with big punches. Big leg kick from Mir. Big body kick. Cormier takes a big roundhouse to the body and then an elbow as Cormier clinches him up. Cormier presses him to the cage with dirty boxing. Cormier catches a kick and unloads a punch combo, then presses Mir to the cage. Ref separates them. Half the round down. Big body kick from Mir. Cormier being tentative. Clinch, Cormier turns him to the cage. He goes for a leg and Mir tries to pull guard. Cormier lets him up and lands a right as he presses him to the cage. Boos from the crowd. Ref wants work. Cormier backs up with a big punch combo. Ref separates them. Big right from Cormier. Body kick Mir pressing forward. Presses Cormier to the cage and the crowd boos after the bell. Well Cormier got the decision but didn’t win any fans with that one. 10-9 and 30-27 Cormier.

(155 Title) Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez

Round 1 – It’s been such a long time coming for Melendez. Has it been too long though? Staredown shows they are practically the same height. Touch gloves. Inside leg kick from Gil. Outside leg kick from Bendo. Inside leg kick from Gil. Right hand. Inside leg kick and eats a straight left counter from Bendo. Gil catches a leg kick and dumps Bendo while landing a right hand. Gil stacks Ben against the cage, holding Ben’s ankle. Ben gets up, eats a knee. Gil catches a leg kick, presses him to the cage with a flying knee to boot. Ben turns Gil to the cage in the clinch, landing knees to the thighs. They struggle in the clinch, Gil backs out with a left hook. Couple high kicks, then a big leg kick to follow. Right hand leg kick combo from Gil. Again. Gil catches a body kick, dumps him then jumps in with a knee to the body. Close round. Big inside leg kick from Ben. Gil with a left counter. Gil catches a kick, dumps Bendo with a counter right hand. I give it to Gil 10-9.

Round 2 – Ben’s corner told him he lost the round. Leg kick and a nice right hand from Gil. Left counter from Gil. Left from Ben. Clinch, body shots from Gil. Knee from Ben as he backs out. Leg kick from Gil. Knee from Ben, clinch, break, knee from Ben to the body. They reset. Brief clinch. Reset. Punch to the leg from Ben. Head kick from Ben blocked. Gil fires back with punches, clinch. Ben shoots, stuffed. Left hook to the body from Ben. Leg kick from Gil. Ben’s nose is bleeding a bit. Left hook from Ben, knee to the body, right hand as they exchange in the pocket. Ben lands an elbow and gets the better of the exchange. Right counter from Gil. I see that round for Bendo 10-9.

Round 3 – Ben hypes the crowd up. One two from Ben, Gil counters with a nice right. Big leg kick inside from Ben. Leg kick inside from Gil. Ben switches stances. Huge leg kick drops Gil to the ground. Back up. Another big leg kick. Brief clinch, Ben backs out. Nice right from Gil, another one as Ben tries to evade. He’s throwing single punches though. One two from Ben, he shoots in against the cage, scoops the legs out. Gil is on his feet. Knee from Ben, left hook from Gil. Two minutes to go. Gil catches a kick and tries to dump Ben. Left from Ben. Right from Gil. Ben shoots, stuffed. 90 seconds to go. Body kick, Gil catches it and lets go. Gil’s legs are bruised up pretty good. Gil lands a nice right hand as Ben lunges in with a punch. Brief dog fight exchange. Leg kick from Gil, counter left from Ben. Gil catches a leg kick and they both drop to the ground. Ben gets top advantage and drops some elbows before the bell. Big John has to get between them. I’ve got it 10-9 for Ben.

Round 4 – Championship rounds. Body punch from Gil, body kick from Ben. Roundhouse to the body from Ben. Big leg kick inside. Gil pressing forward lands a left after a brief clinch. I wonder if Ben has his toothpick in? Gil being very patient, catches another kick. Catches a knee. They reset. Leg kick Bendo. Knee to body from Gil. Ben shoots, stuffed. Elbow from Ben. Straight left. Gil fires back. Two minutes to go. Side kick to leg from Ben, again. Ben sweeps the leg of Gil, Gil goes down and Ben tries to jump on his back but Gil pops right up and free. Leg kick from Ben. Left hook from Gil. Right to body. Two hooks to the body and a right hook to the face from Gil. Left hand on the break. So close man. I don’t know who to give it to. I will say Ben 10-9. But not super confident with that.

Round 5 – It could very well be dead even. Big leg kick from Ben followed by a couple punches. Gil’s right shoulder looks jacked. Has a big bone sticking up on the top of it.. Right to the body, right hook, he backs Bendo up. Left from Bendo. Elbow from Ben as Gil catches a kick. Gil pressing forward, left hand, leg kick. Ben shoots, stuffed. Left from Ben. Leg kick, elbow. Body shot from Gil. Two minutes to go. Leg kick from Ben. Gil with a right after catching a leg. Jumping knee from Gil. Nice right from Gil. One minute to go. Another right. Left hook. Body shot from Gil. One two from Gil. Jab. They both throw their hands up at the bell immediately. Last round I have for Gil 10-9 and the fight three rounds to two for Ben. But it’s so close, it could go either way and it wouldn’t be a robbery.